State Income Tax Checkoff

Georgians can also support our state's nongame wildlife at tax time.

What is often called the Give Wildlife a Chance state income tax checkoff provides an easy and effective way to contribute to the Georgia Wildlife Conservation Fund. By filling in a dollar amount on line 26 of the long form (Form 500) or line 10 of the short form (Form 500-EZ), citizens can support nongame species management and conservation in Georgia.

Every dollar counts. And thanks to the generosity of Georgians, the checkoff has raised some $7.5 million since it was created in 1989. Contributions played a part in many conservation achievements, varying from the restoration of bald eagle populations to land acquisitions available for public recreation such as Silver Lake Wildlife Management Area near Bainbridge and thousands of acres of prime wildlife habitat along the Altamaha River in southeastern Georgia.

The checkoff made up 9 percent of Wildlife Conservation Fund revenues in fiscal 2015.